In a revolutionary piece of engineering, a Chinese scientist known as “Crazy Li” has equipped small drones with the ability to emit powerful metal-cutting laser beams – a feat previously thought impossible. Was. According to a report South China Morning Post, Li Xiao, an associate researcher at the National University of Defense Technology under the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), led the innovation which has been documented in a Chinese journal. Acta Armamentarii.
The research envisions a scenario where a single small drone is capable of taking on a team of fully armed soldiers. The drone emits a near-infrared laser that is 200 million times more powerful than a beam of 1080 nanometer wavelength that can cause blindness at a power of just five microwatts. According to the study, a laser of this intensity is “enough to cut” metal.
“In future applications, multiple drones could be equipped with this device to detect targets and then request illumination from the ground, further improving response speed,” the study highlights.
Currently, generating a laser beam capable of piercing metal body usually requires large equipment loaded on a truck which limits its use in real-life situations. However, Li’s team has developed a compact solution that allows these high-powered lasers to be deployed on much smaller platforms, such as consumer-grade drones.
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How was this accomplished?
This was accomplished using a new device that can redirect the laser beam from a ground station, allowing the drone to act as a mobile laser weapon without having to carry a power source. This increases the laser power emitted by the drone to 30 kilowatts or more, while also allowing the beam to bend across the sky – bypassing obstacles and hitting targets efficiently.
According to the paper, scientists have solved most of the technical problems associated with the new laser drone. In particular, the main obstacle to its success is the vibration generated during drone flight which can cause scattering of the beam. According to Lee, the device should have excellent vibration isolation technology to avoid such a scenario.
However, as the technology moves from research to potential deployment, the global community must be prepared to consider the implications for both military strategy and international arms control discussions.
